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    The Fall of the House of Usher
    The Fall of the House of Usher
    The Fall of the House of Usher
    Audiobook55 minutes

    The Fall of the House of Usher

    Written by Edgar Allan Poe

    Narrated by Tony Addison

    5/5

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    About this audiobook

    Edgar Allan Poe's gothic tale of the crumbling Usher mansion -- and its ghastly inhabitants -- comes to life as never before in this amazing audio-book.

    The tale opens with the unnamed narrator arriving at the house of his boyhood friend, Roderick Usher, having received a letter from him in a distant part of the country complaining of an illness and asking for his help.

    Although strong-willed Poe wrote this short story before the invention of modern psychological science, Roderick's symptoms can be described according to its terminology. They include hyperesthesia (hypersensitivity to light, sounds, smells, and tastes), hypochondria (an excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness), and acute anxiety. It is revealed that Roderick's twin sister, Madeline, is also ill and falls into cataleptic, death-like trances.

    The narrator is impressed with Roderick's paintings, and attempts to cheer him by reading with him and listening to his improvised musical compositions on the guitar. Roderick sings "The Haunted Palace", then tells the narrator that he believes the house he lives in to be sentient, and that this sentience arises from the arrangement of the masonry and vegetation surrounding it.

    An Author's Republic audio production.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAuthor's Republic
    Release dateMar 2, 2017
    ISBN9781518943874
    Author

    Edgar Allan Poe

    New York Times bestselling author Dan Ariely is the James B. Duke Professor of Behavioral Economics at Duke University, with appointments at the Fuqua School of Business, the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, and the Department of Economics. He has also held a visiting professorship at MIT’s Media Lab. He has appeared on CNN and CNBC, and is a regular commentator on National Public Radio’s Marketplace. He lives in Durham, North Carolina, with his wife and two children.

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    Reviews for The Fall of the House of Usher

    5/5

    12 ratings8 reviews

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    • 5/5
      The narrative blurs the line between reality and the supernatural, as the characters experience inexplicable phenomena such as strange sounds, unexplained illnesses, and the appearance of a ghostly figure. These supernatural occurrences heighten the atmosphere of terror and contribute to the story's sense of dread and uncertainty.
    • 5/5
      Central to the story is the theme of mental illness and its destructive effects on individuals and families. Roderick Usher, consumed by his own anxieties and fears, descends into madness, while the narrator grapples with his own sense of dread and disorientation as he witnesses the unraveling of his friend's mind.
    • 5/5
      Poe skillfully builds tension throughout the narrative, gradually escalating the sense of dread and anticipation as the story unfolds. The ominous atmosphere, combined with the psychological complexity of the characters, creates a gripping sense of suspense that keeps the reader engaged until the story's chilling conclusion.
    • 5/5
      Poe masterfully creates a sense of foreboding and unease through his vivid descriptions of the dilapidated mansion, its gloomy surroundings, and the brooding character of Roderick Usher. The eerie setting serves as a metaphor for the decaying state of the Usher family and reflects the psychological turmoil of its inhabitants.
    • 5/5
      Poe employs rich symbolism throughout the story, using elements such as the crumbling mansion, the tarn that surrounds it, and the stormy weather to convey deeper themes of decay, isolation, and impending doom. The house itself becomes a symbol of the Usher family's decline and eventual collapse.
    • 5/5
      Set in a decaying mansion in an isolated countryside, the story follows an unnamed narrator who visits his friend Roderick Usher, a reclusive and tormented aristocrat, and experiences firsthand the mysterious and tragic events that unfold within the Usher family home.
    • 5/5
      Through the use of first-person narration, Poe immerses the reader in the subjective experience of the protagonist, inviting them to share in his sense of horror and fascination with the events unfolding in the House of Usher. The unreliable nature of the narrator adds to the story's sense of ambiguity and mystery.
    • 5/5
      The Fall of the House of Usher is a Gothic tale written by Edgar Allan Poe, renowned for its eerie atmosphere, psychological depth, and exploration of themes such as madness, isolation, and the supernatural.